Combine sugar, oil, eggs, salt, lemon juice and vanilla and beat well. Sift together flour and soda and add to mixture. Beat well. Remove beaters and stir in apples, date and pecans. Bake in greased and floured 9x13 inch pan for about 1 hour at 350°. Frost with caramel frosting.
Caramel Frosting
Combine in large saucepan:
1 teaspoon soda
Pinch of salt
2 cups white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 cup buttermilk
Cook over slow heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil and boil until mixture forms a soft ball in cold water. Remove from heat and let cool until lukewarm. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla, beat until creamy. When right consistency, ice cake. If frosting gets too hard add a bit of hot milk. If too soft, melt over very low heat and cook a little longer before beating again.
